Related Tags:

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (CBS 2) — A mosque controversy is heating up in a New Jersey neighborhood, and many wonder if it’s due to traffic concerns or Muslim fears.

CBS 2’s Kristin Thorne has more on the Islamic community’s fight to build their own house of worship.

A local fire hall in Bridgewater was turned into a makeshift mosque, but the local Muslim community wants a house of their own – and they want their Al-Falah Center at the property of a vacant banquet hall.

“We are practicing our freedom of religion,” said Omar Mohammedi of the Al-Falah Center.

The Muslim community said a few months ago the township gave them the go-ahead.

In late January, they held a hearing on the proposed mosque at Bridgewater’s town hall. Hundreds of people showed up – so many, in fact, that they had to cancel the hearing.

Among the nearly 500 people, there were some that were concerned about terrorist groups funding the mosque. Later that night, the township council initiated an ordinance that houses of worship could not be built on back roads – that would include the Al-Falah Center.

The township has since approved the ordinance, and now the center can’t be built.